"Eighty percent of retail spaces are built in twenty percent of the year."- Mike Burton, project manager, Environments Inc.

It's that time of year. Are you worried about getting your fixtures produced and installed on time? You're not alone. We asked several veteran fixture manufacturers (and NASFM members) what steps you can take to make the process run more smoothly. Here's what they said:

Get Consensus Early.

To save time and frustration later in the process, get everyone who needs to be involved together early on during the development stage. Who needs to be involved? Merchandising personnel who will use the fixtures on a daily basis, the store planner or designer who must temper design goals with reality, the architect and general contractor who manage the big picture. Every fixture manufacturer we spoke to agreed that the project benefits when they all sit down together initially.

When Everything Appears to be Working, Check Again.

Although it might sound unnecessary, you might want to request completed fixture drawings with actual dimensions and compare them to the architectural drawings to make sure that the fixturing is consistent with the lighting, power, ceiling, and other building considerations. As Mike Burton, project manager for Environments Inc., noted, "Coordination between a designer and an architect is often underestimated. The final fixture plan should be overlaid onto other architectural floor plans to avoid surprises later."

Or Have Your Fixture Manufacturer do the Store Planning.

You can charge your fixture manufacturer with coordinating all shop drawings and recommending specifications to save time and headaches down the road. "We are able to save the retailer money on many levels by cutting down on fixture requirements that are typically made in the field during construction," says John Dlugosh, vice president of Dlugosh Cabinet & Fixture Inc. "Any time store planners can avoid last-minute specification changes, they will ultimately save time and money."

Allow Ample Lead Time.

Lack of time is one of the most challenging factors in fixture production. Gary Jones, senior project manager of Gold Medal Fixture Co., said that his best clients "allow for lead time in their projects and communicate to all parties involved in the project." How much time is adequate? For a 500-unit rollout, it could take anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks after the order has been placed, depending upon the complexity of the project, the availability of the materials, and the production schedule of the manufacturer.

Start Early.

With a little advance planning and an acceptable down-payment schedule in place, the manufacturer can pre-build and inventory fixturing for the store planner so that the fixtures are ready for delivery on short notice. Letting your fixture manufacturer know how your project plans are changing on a quarterly basis can help your fixture manufacturer make sure that you have the fixtures you need-when you need them.